The simple past tense

Form (structure) Meaning & Use Pronunciation

How do we form the simple past tense . . .?

English has two typestwo types of verbs in the past tense: taught

walked studied gave became cried lived did

Look at the following list of past tense verbs… which verbs are regular, and which are irregular?

Regular verbs Irregular verbs

RegularRegular verbs are verbs that ….

Simple Form Past TenseWalk

Study

Cry

Live

…end with –eded

IrregularIrregular verbs are verbs that . . . .…DON’T end with –eded

some irregular verbsHave a vowel change in the past tense:

Simple Form Past Tensebecome becamegive gavedrive droveforget forgot

other irregular verbsHave a different kind of change:

SimpleSimple PastPastteach taughttaughtbring broughtbroughtLeave leftleftHear heardheardBuy

boughtbought

And some irregular verbs

don’t change at all . . .

SimpleSimple PastPasthit hitput putset set

The children set the table every Sunday.

The children set the table last night.

For regularregular verbs, simply use the –ed–ed form of the verb in a positive sentence.

When I was a child, I ___________ the piano.

Donna ______________ and _______________ in Paris when she was younger.

For irregularirregular verbs, use the correct past tense form in positive sentences.

Last week, I ___________ you a letter.

The students _____________ a speech

in English. They __________ a great

job!

For negative sentences,USEFor negative sentences,USE

I went to work yesterday. Carl didn’t godidn’t go to work because he was sick.

Exception =

VERB BE!

The verb be is special. Never use DID NOT or DIDN’T with the verb BE. Instead, just use:

Meaning & UseIn what situations do English speakers use

the simple past tense? Completed actions in the past What are

some common time expressions used with

the past tense?

Examples:

I saw Maria yesterdayyesterday.

Last FridayLast Friday, the students took their spelling and vocabulary tests.

They got married two years agotwo years ago.

pronunciationpronunciation

The –ed ending in English has:

Some regular verbs end with a “tt” sound:

WalkedLaughed

WashedTalked

jumped

Some regular verbs end with a “dd” sound:

plannedplayed

learnedanswered

loved

Other regular verbs end with an “idid” sound:

These verbs have an extra syllable:

Simple FormSimple Form Past TensePast Tense

There are rules that tell us how to pronounce the –ed.However,It’s a good idea for students to make a list of which –ed–ed verbs have a t sound, which have a d sound, and which have an id sound.

And with practice, you can start to learn and memorize correct pronunciation.

Student Practice:

Go to this website with a classmate to practice what you have learned or reviewed today:

http://www.quia.com/quiz/664418.html